All about how God has blessed me. In my marriage, with my six children, through homeschooling, and our faith with recipes, large family living, and updates on our life.

Last year we were able to review Lots and Lots of Firetrucks from Marshall Publishing. So we were excited to be allowed the opportunity to review Lots and Lots of Penguins and Their Happy Feet. My kids love penguins and we are fortunate enough that we have been able to see them at our local zoo. Our zoo here has the tropical variety of penguins. We have also seen the Arctic variety while visiting Sea World a couple of years ago. It seems the fascination with penguins is on the rise with certain movies highlighting Penguins.

This set includes 2 DVD’s – Lots & Lots of Playful Penguins and their Toe-Tappin’ Happy Feet , and Lots & Lots of Penguins in the Wild! , plus a bonus animated music DVD – Party Like a Penguin! Regularly priced at $39.90, you can get the whole set now – just $19.95!

Lots and Lots of Penguins and Their Happy Feet is approximately 75 minutes long and has lots of footage of penguins in both natural and captive environments. There are lots of facts and trivia about all SEVENTEEN varieties of penguins from all around the world. Other animals are featured as well, such as polar bears, seals, and wild birds. This is cute and entertaining and is set to the backdrop of “toe-tapping” music. We found this was really cute to put on during chore time when the upbeat songs carried us along and the footage would catch our eyes for a moment or two during break-times.

Also included was the really cute animated dance segment, called Party Like A Penguin, that entertained the kids and had them dancing along.

In Volume 2, Lots & Lots of Penguins in the Wild, you are taken to Antarctica, Australia, and other areas and see Penguins in their natural habitat, the wild. In this 30 minute video, you see and hear the penguins while they take care of their babies, feed them, build nests, and get to see them playing and swimming. The camera men get on the penguins level to see what they see and is really interesting to watch.

We received this DVD set free in exchange for our honest review. We have been blessed.

I’m not sure what happened to the baby I had nine years ago, or even to the toddler he became, so cute and innocent and sweet, nor even the little boy I had who knew no stranger and sang me songs while sitting on my lap. Instead, somehow I have this half-grown human speaking in words too big in concepts I wouldn’t have thought he understood. When did I miss it. When did I miss the transformation from that wide-eyed baby to this boy who is growing too tall. Who before long will be able to look me eye-to-eye.

There is a part of me that relishes the children getting older. I love the independence this brings, the helpfulness. The fact that I can have conversations with them about things in my world vs things in their world. I love the higher thinking. I love the thought processing. But I miss the innocence. I miss the “Mommy knows everything” and the “I love Mommy most of all.” I miss that this year he definitely does not believe in Santa. I miss that he won’t forget between now and then what that Christmas present he saw us buy is.

But I do love that he keeps Santa real for the littles. That he plays along, giving me the sideways glance that says, “Mom, can you still believe they think that?!?”

Brendyn LOVES science, history, geography, all the subjects I hated in school. He relishes the concepts and tries in every way to apply them. “Mom, those Christmas lights are closed circuits, that’s why you can’t take a bulb out.” “Mom, I can’t get this to go back together, because the magnetic polarity is opposite and they are repelling each other.” He made a pizza box, rubber band guitar and through experimentation told me that “the higher the elevation of the strings from the box, the better it sounds.” Seriously. He put pencils in to pick the strings up and has been playing some tune since. I miss my baby Brendyn, but this Brendyn could be lots of fun!

I don’t really believe in coincidences. I believe that God knows exactly what I need, and creates the circumstances so that my need can be fulfilled. I believe that is one of the myriad of ways he takes care of me. Lately my hormones have been off the chart as I process the end of this miscarriage, and God knew I needed to stay busy or call it a day. So, I am busy. I was able to work today and going again tomorrow (which is also a huge financial blessing to us!). I have two Beauticontrol Parties scheduled for October. Two kids having birthday parties in October. A Brother-in-law having a birthday too! A nephew getting dedicated! I am working the last week in October (a whole week!) I have stuff selling on Ebay. A Close to My Heart order to place next week. I am busy, and I am happy.

Austin said when I came home today he could tell that I needed the day off (to go work!) He got to do all the fun “Mom” stuff. He put the toddlers to work cleaning off their mural, and they are doing a pretty good job! He gave the baby a haircut. (Big task since he is like an octopus when you are trying to hold him still!) Brendyn got school done. Everything was in order and everybody was happy when I got home, and I can’t ask for anything more than that. God knew the man I needed to complete my life, and He gave my husband to me.

Five Special Blessings to Me today: MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!, Happy Kids, Mountain Dew (I need the caffeine), People who buy stuff from me (BeautiControl, Ebay, CTMH), Sisters-in-laws who I have been chatting with much more often and enjoying it.